Daily Dose of Social Media: Venus Williams returns to Miami Open as Rafael Nadal joins TikTok

In a new Daily Dose of Social Media, we take a look at the moment Venus Williams joined Ons Jabeur's practice, marking her public return to the court. Additionally, Rafael Nadal stole the spotlight after creating his own TikTok account and reacting to some fan videos.

On the other hand, Victoria Azarenka showed off the new South American ritual she's getting into, while Zverev was spotted playing basketball with a renowned model in Miami

Venus Williams back on court, training with Ons Jabeur at Miami Open

Venus Williams made a surprise return to the courts, joining her colleagues for practice at the Miami Open. The former World No. 1 trained alongside Ons Jabeur before the Tunisian’s tournament debut. The seven-time Grand Slam champion has not officially retired, though her last appearances came a year ago at the Sunshine Double, where she fell in the first rounds at Indian Wells and Miami Open against Nao Hibino (2-6, 6-3, 0-6) and Diana Shnaider (0-6, 0-6).

The American has repeatedly insisted that she has no plans to end her professional career just yet and aims to extend her time on the circuit. However, after a year away from competition and with no major tournaments in the US in the coming months, it seems unlikely that Williams will make a full return to the tour any time soon.

At 44 years old, Williams looked sharp while hitting with Jabeur, the two sharing jokes throughout the session. Recently, Williams was announced as a wildcard for Indian Wells, but just days later, she clarified that she hadn’t been informed of the invitation — finding out through the media — and that she’d be thousands of miles away at other commitments during the tournament.

Zverev unwinds with basketball ahead of Miami Open debut

Alexander Zverev made the most of his time in Miami, attending a Miami Heat game before his Miami Open debut. The World No. 2 didn’t just watch from the stands — he stepped onto the court, trying out a few shots and enjoying the atmosphere. He was joined by Brazilian supermodel Chico Lachowski, known for working with brands like Dolce & Gabbana and Versace.

Zverev is hoping to turn things around after a rough patch on tour, suffering several surprising losses in recent tournaments. Since the start of the South American Golden Swing, the German has posted a modest 4-4 record despite being the top seed in each event.

Now in Miami, Zverev is aiming to rediscover his best form, entering the tournament as the highest-ranked player in the draw due to World No. 1 Jannik Sinner’s suspension. Before his opening match, Zverev seemed in high spirits, ready to leave his recent struggles behind.

Rafael Nadal joins TikTok, racks up almost 5 million views in first hours

Rafael Nadal has officially joined TikTok, quickly amassing over 200,000 followers and 260,000 likes within hours. His first video went viral, reaching an incredible 4.7 million views. In the clip, Nadal is seen at his academy, setting up the camera and writing the message "Hola TikTok," reminiscent of the countless times the 22-time Grand Slam champion has signed a camera lens after a victory.

The Spaniard wasted no time making an impact on the platform. Shortly after, TikTok’s official account posted a follow-up video featuring the former World No. 1 reacting to some of the thousands of fan videos already circulating about him.

“Since I retired, it was not as much time off as I was supposed to have!” Nadal said laughing. “But it’s normal, when you have a big change in your life you need to organize the new life… To organize, and to discover a little bit what I want to be in this next step of my life…

“I remember, even when you have a few free days off (on tour), I wanted to do all these things that I wasn’t able to do. So the time was precious. Now, it’s different… It gives me the feeling that I can enjoy more what I’m doing.”

Victoria Azarenka embraces traditional South American ritual

Victoria Azarenka shared a photo showcasing her new habit: drinking mate, the traditional South American infusion made from yerba mate leaves. The drink is particularly popular among Argentine and Uruguayan athletes, with players like Francisco Cerúndolo, Diego Schwartzman, and Sebastián Báez often seen sipping mate. Even global sports stars like Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez are known for embracing this iconic tradition.

"Joined the mate cult 🧉," Azarenka wrote on Instagram.

The former World No. 1 made a strong start at the Miami Open, defeating Ukraine's Anhelina Kalinina 6-3, 6-1 to advance to the second round, where she’ll face 15th seed Karolina Muchová. The Belarusian was all smiles after her victory, and the celebrations turned even sweeter when her son Leo joined her on the court. The young boy even left his mark by writing "Hello world" on the camera lens, bringing a proud smile to his mother’s face.

Djokovic and Gauff take on 'Giant Pong' challenge

Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff teamed up for a unique 'Giant Pong' challenge during the pre-tournament activities at the Miami Open. The 24-time Grand Slam champion and the world No. 3 stole the spotlight in this fun contest, where they aimed at giant cups from opposite sides of the court, trying to knock out their opponent's cups while hitting between them from the baseline.

Gauff made an impressive start to her campaign with a dominant 6-0, 6-0 victory over former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin on Thursday. Meanwhile, Djokovic is set to make his debut on the main stadium this Friday against Australian Rinky Hijikata, hoping to bounce back after early exits at the Qatar Open and Indian Wells.

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